
GP2Lap                                                            24-Oct-1998
_____________________________________________________________________________


GP2Lap version 1.02
Copyright (c) 1998 Frank Ahnert, Rene Smit
You may not redistribute GP2Lap via any media or for any purpose without
the express permission of the authors.

GP2 Copyright (c) 1995 Geoff Crammond

DOS/4GW Protected Mode Run-time  Version 1.97
Copyright (c) Rational Systems, Inc. 1990-1994  

Cryptlib Portable Encryption Libary, version 2.00
Copyright Peter Gutmann, Eric Young, and Colin Plumb  1992-1996
(http://www.cs.auckland.ac.nz/~pgut001/cryptlib.html)



DISCLAIMER
==========

This software is provided as is without warranty of any kind, either
expressed or implied. The authors will not be held responsible for any
losses incurred, either directly or indirectly by the use of this program.

This is not a Microprose product.



What is GP2Lap
==============

GP2Lap is a real-time extension for GP2. Its main function is simply
logging data within GP2. The current version will log vital information
for online competitions, e.g. processor occupancy. There's also a
feature that displays useful information on the screen while you're
driving the car. Future versions of GP2Lap will contain additional
features; just check the GP2Lap home page regurarly for updates.

GP2Lap should work with all (language) versions of GP2. If you have
trouble getting it to work with your version then please let us know.

Please read this file completely before contacting us.

See the bottom of this file for our contact address and home page.



Installation
============

Extract gp2lap.zip and dos4gw.zip to your GP2 directory.

The zips contain the following files:

- gp2lap.exe	The main executable.
- gp2lap.txt	This file.
- gp2lap.cfg	Configuration file.
- dos4gw.exe	DOS-extender by Rational Systems, Inc.

Minimum system requirements are the same as for GP2, but 16 Mb memory
is recommended. It has been reported that GP2Lap or GP2 can give
"out of memory" errors with only 8 Mb memory.



Running GP2Lap
==============

GP2Lap is a 32-bit DOS program, just like GP2. It needs to load the
"dos4gw.exe" dos-extender, which should be located within your PATH
or in the same directory as GP2Lap. GP2Lap is supposed to be in the
same directory as GP2.exe is located, but it's only necessary that
the current directory is the GP2 directory for GP2Lap to run.

Warning: although it might seem GP2Lap is working under Windows 95/98,
it can be unstable, because GP2 itself is unstable under this OS.
Saving games or hotlaps from within GP2 can cause crashes (even
without GP2Lap) when being run under Windows 95/98. To avoid any
trouble run GP2Lap and GP2 under DOS! If you really have to run
it under Windows, make a special shortcut for gp2lap.exe and make
sure all settings are at maximum DOS-compatibility (especially take
care of assigning as much memory as you can).


Starting
--------
To start, just enter the gp2lap executable name at the dos prompt:

gp2lap.exe

After GP2Lap is started it will try to find "gp2.exe" within the
current directory. If it's found, the game is automatically started.
Any command-line options you want to give GP2 should be passed to
GP2lap, which will pass them to GP2.

If GP2 is started correctly, the GP2Lap logo should appear at the
right top of GP2's menu screen. If it's not there then something went
wrong and GP2Lap probably isn't activated.


Configuring
-----------
At startup, GP2Lap tries to read a configuration file called
"gp2lap.cfg". This file contains options to configure GP2Lap to your
liking. You can specify a different config file with the "cfg:" command
line option. For example:

	gp2lap cfg:ultimate.cfg

The configuration options will be explained thoughout this document.



Log System
==========

Introduction
------------
While you're playing GP2, GP2Lap is just sitting around, doing nothing
but waiting for specific events to happen. These events include:
starting GP2, starting a session, loading a game, entering/leaving the
pit, crossing the finish line, etc.

At all these specific events, the log system gets some information about
the event, which is then stored in memory buffers. When you save your
hotlap or game, most of the information is attached to the file being
saved. These are called "GP2Lap extended files".


Hotlaps
-------
Extended hotlaps will contain general information and info for this
specific lap.

General information includes all 'physics' (of which some can be edited
with the so called Quick 'n' Dirty editor), car damage limit values,
pit speed limit, track information, and more.

Lap information includes lap time, average and maximum processor
occupancy (to detect 'slomo' driving), and more.

Extended info can be extracted from the hotlap with HOF2Lap,
version 0.50 or later. Go to the HOF2Lap home page to download it:
http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Downs/3987/


Saved games
-----------
Extended save games will contain general information and lap information
for all laps. This information can be extracted by HOF2Lap too.


Authentication disclaimer
-------------------------
If you're being disqualified do NOT contact us. Contact the competition
director(s). If the extended save game or hotlap seems to be corrupted
in some way causing the disqualification, the director will contact us,
and we will look into it. Remember that things like an edited track (no
matter how little the change) is logged by GP2Lap and might cause
your disqualification. Make sure you always use the correct car set
and tracks (the ones specified by the competition rules).
Also remember that validating the saved games is done by the director,
a database script, and/or a verification team, not by GP2Lap or HOF2Lap.
GP2Lap just logs raw data, it doesn't interpret it.


Debug info
----------
GP2Lap can dump some debug info about most events in a separate logfile
called "gp2lap.log". This is readable text, so you can see what has
happened exactly, or you can send it to us in case you suspect there's
something wrong. It's of no other use, so you can as well ignore it.
It can be turned on by specifying this line in the configuration file:

logDebug = 1

The name of the logfile can be specified with:

logDebugName = "gp2lap.log"

Note: this is not the main log file of GP2Lap! It's just for debugging
purposes. The real log information is attached to save files.

You can view this info in-game by pressing the '2' key
while you're in the cockpit.



At The Line
===========

Introduction
------------
GP2Lap provides some additional timing information to improve gameplay.
Have you ever wondered about your inpit/outpit laptimes? Now you'll
get them. Are you tired of waiting for the next straight to take a quick
look at other cars' laptimes? You'll get them too and much more...

Usage
-----
Just hit '9' while sitting in the car to turn it on.
Within "At the line", display can be changed using the following keys:

    '9' :  change the size of the board
    '^' :  scroll through positions (note: this is the key above the TAB
           key and left of the '1' key ;)
    TAB :  switch between different tables
    '0' :  turn off

Currently, the following tables are available:

(1)  Pos  Driver	      behind
     -------------------------------
      01. Hill           1:43:47.407
      02. R Schumacher   +0.932
      03. Alesi          +7.240
      04. Frentzen       +32.242
      05. Diniz          +51.682

     Shows the gaps between the cars.

(2)  Pos  Driver	     laptime
     -------------------------------
      01. Hill          1:47.407  <- 3
      02. R Schumacher  1:49.932
      03. Alesi         1:47.240  <- 2
      04. Frentzen      1:32.242  <- 1
      05. Diniz         1:51.682

     Shows the actual laptimes of all cars. The three fastest
     laps will be marked.

Note:
These tables will be updated everytime the leader is crossing the
start/finish line. So, if you're a lap down you won't appear there.


Limitations
-----------
- If you load a saved game, there will be no information until the
leader is crossing the line.
- This feature only works in the SVGA video mode of GP2. It will be
disabled in VGA video mode.
- Displaying these tables can add upto about 10% to your processor
occupancy, depending on your system configuration.



Ipx Linkup
==========

Since version 1.01 GP2Lap contains ipx network support for GP2's
dual-player link mode.


Notes
-----
- You can only play head to head with another person.
- It's exactly like a normal serial linking, but using Ipx interface
  instead of a null-modem cable.
- Don't expect performance wonders, although one person claimed it's
  being slightly faster than serial link.


Usage
-----
- In preparation to starting a link, specify the following in gp2lap.cfg:

  UseIPXLink = 1
  MyLinkName = "YourName Here"

- After starting gp2lap.exe you'll see:

  >>>Searching players [-]

- Once GP2Lap found some players, it will change f.i. to:

  >>>Found 2 players. Choose player -["Paul Tracy" (00001B30BC57)]

- Select the player you wanna race against, using <up>/<down> or <enter>.
  Next, you'll see this:

  >>>Awaiting reply from "Paul Tracy" [/]

- You'll get notice whether the person wants to play with you or not.


Tech Stuff
----------
- Currently using ipx socket 0x5100 only.
- The handshake is quite clumsy, but please don't complain.
- We did some successfull tests under DOS and(!) Win95.



Thanks
======

We'd like to thank the following people:

Jo Helsen. Without him GP2Lap wouldn't exist. He has never given
up trying to produce an anti-cheating tool and has inspired us to
get together and develop it. He has also been our main beta-tester.
Thanks!

All other beta-testers (in alphabetical order):
Marcel Borsboom, Anton Dachounine, Robert Doyle, Dimitry Gerards,
Chris Graff, Steve Holgeth, Ruben Jubeh, Chris Meech, Cesar Mello,
Ari Nieminen, Christopher Orr, Marcel Schot, Robin Smit,
Ivanhoe Vasiljevich and Mike Wallace.

Trevor Kellaway, for creating GPLap, the program that has directly
inspired GP2Lap, including its name.

Anyone else we forgot.



Revisions
=========

Version 1.02, 24-Oct-1998
	- Added on-screen log output (press '2' during game).
	- Some other minor improvements.
	- Some bug fixes.

Version 1.01, 14-Oct-1998
    - Added IPX routines.
    - Added split times during race.
    - Disabled logging of PO before a race has started.
    - Added some experimental stuff (only for experienced users!).
    - Minor bug fixes.

Version 1.00, 26-Sep-1998
	First release.



Contacting us
=============

All bug reports, complaints and suggestions should be sent to:
    
  gp2lap@gmx.net

The GP2Lap home page is located at:

  http://www.xs4all.nl/~rsdi/gp2lap/
